Fine Dining in Constantia – La Colombe

(Originally published November 2010)

La Colombe is the highly rated Michelin star restaurant in the grounds of the Constantia Uitsig vineyard.

After listening to the menu presentation, I decided on the tasting menu, as one really should in a restaurant like this. With wine pairings (oops I’m driving!). 7 courses here we go (see attached menu scans for the courses and pairings)

Amuses Bouche… 3 of them. All delicious. The Asian influence in the cooking is immediately obvious. Not spicy but in the use of ginger, lemongrass, chilli, wasabi and coconut.

Kitchen cocktail – served in a martini glass, a lychee sorbet with fresh fruit topped with a light fruit mousse / jus. Yummy.

First pairing ok. Wine nice but too mild to offset the spiciness of the crab salad. A White with a little more bite would have been more suitable.

Second pairing was perfect. The Cederberg was sweet yet delicate and accompanied the duck course, and the foie gras and artichoke roulade in particular, perfectly.

Third pairing was really good although the course itself was a little disappointing. Not convinced lamb should be paired with mussels.

The palette cleanser (or 4th course) was delicious!

5th course and paired wine were delicious.

6th course was not the roast suckling pig but veal. It was pretty good with a perfect paired wine but I was starting to struggle at this point.

Dessert course was too chocolatey for me but was served with a deliciously sweet yet light white dessert wine.

Coffee was welcome although the petits fours (well selection of chocolate truffles and turkish delights) were a step too far. White flag… Totally stuffed!

Initially i thought it a little disappointing that only one of the 4 white wine pairings was from Constantia, but on second thought the selection provided gave a good and varied account from the Cape region. All in all a fantastic dining experience in a beautiful restaurant with first class service. If you end up going there one day then arrive in daylight if you can to be able to appreciate the vineyards and setting at the foot of Table Mountain.